Introducing the Lavender's Blue Community

When my oldest was two I started researching homeschooling in earnest. We were living in North Carolina at the time, and our amazing local homeschool community sealed the deal.

The moms who were ahead of me on the homeschool journey were such an inspiration, and I could see how homeschooling works. Belonging to a community gave me confidence.

Almost ten years later, I'm now the author of a Waldorf-inspired homeschool curriculum. I love creating curriculum. But all along I've had a vision that's bigger than the curriculum.

Lavender's Blue needs a community as well.

No matter where you live, I want you to have a community of mamas who inspire you, give you confidence, and show you how homeschooling works.

There are many places to ask questions and crowd-source answers online.

You can google it. Search for blog posts and pinterest pins that will give you good ideas. Ask in one of the many facebook groups that are available for Waldorf-inspired homeschoolers.

The answers you get will vary, you might find just the right idea or you might come up empty or more confused than before. But the answers you get will be missing a key ingredient. They'll be coming from people who don't really know you and get your situation.

When I mentor homeschool parents, I never like to give cookie-cutter answers to questions. The more I can get to know someone, have conversations with them over time, understand more about their situation, the more helpful I can be when they have questions.

A community is different than a place to crowd-source answers.

In a community, people share as much as they ask. They spend time getting to know one another.

The answers and support you get in a community are so much more valuable than any you can get elsewhere. They're based on real relationships.

True community-building is rare.

Unlike facebook groups where people pop in to ask questions but don't ever form a cohesive community, our group is designed for connection.

If you're getting the mentorship, support, and community that you need on facebook, that's great!

But many mamas find the facebook experience to be scattered and distracting. They're in twelve groups because they aren't getting quite what they need from any of them.

They could use more peace in their lives, so their ideal community is away from the chaos and endless distractions of facebook newsfeeds.

The Lavender's Blue Community leaves those distractions, advertisements, and huge numbers of groups out so we can focus on community building.

Our community is one place to go and get support and make connections and feel at home. It's one place to build something meaningful together.

Our online space is designed for community building, not for distractions, rabbit holes, and advertisements.

The new community is hosted on our own private Mighty Networks app, which is not connected to any social media.

It’s a cozy, dedicated space with no advertisements, distractions, or endless rabbit holes.

In our private app, your data is not being mined for the benefit of companies that want to advertise to you.

It's designed to support you, not distract you and keep you glued to the screen.

And it's lovely! Would you like to take a look?

How does this space feel compared to the super cluttered facebook screen or an old-school forum?

Our community is different.

We have a beautiful online community space that's for our members only.

We have easy posting, threaded comments, search, and direct messaging (all the features of facebook groups you're used to).

We also have fine control over which topics show up for us (you can follow and unfollow topics at any time) and fine control over notifications, so you can tailor your experience to your interests.

We have an easy-to-browse members area with profiles and a list of "members near you" that automatically sorts by how close other members are to you in the real world (and it's easy to direct message each other as well).

We have a low monthly membership fee that helps people decide if they're "in or out." Members who pay for access are more likely to show up consistently and engage.

We have access from any web browser and an app you can download to your phone for one-touch access from anywhere.

We have video tours for everything so you’ll know exactly how to navigate in the group and take advantage of all the features.

How would it feel to have a homeschool community that gets you and supports you day in and day out?

Homeschooling and staying home with little ones can be isolating. You don't have coworkers in this gig.

But you do have colleagues. They're just scattered all over the country - and the globe!

Just like any dedicated professional, you need to connect with other people in your field. Conversations with other homeschool parents are powerful opportunities to learn from others' experiences, gain perspective, develop and share your own expertise, and grow tremendously in confidence.

The Lavender's Blue Community is where we'll gather and create the loveliest, most non-judgmental and supportive group of Waldorf-inspired homeschoolers on the internet.

I hope that you'll join us!

Is the Lavender's Blue Community for you?

Are you a Waldorf-inspired homeschooler (early years through the grades), or thinking about homeschooling?

Are you excited to meet other families on the same path?

Are you ready to give as much as you get?

Are you willing to be non-judgmental of other families who are more or less "Waldorfy" than you?

Would you be thrilled to join a lovely, supportive group committed to building real community?

Yes? Then yes, it sounds like this community is just right for you!

How to Join

You can join the Lavender's Blue Community with a monthly or annual recurring membership.

Monthly memberships are $6/month. Annual memberships are $60/year (that works out to two months free!).

Please note that an annual membership is now included with any full-year Lavender's Blue Curriculum purchase (kindergarten through third grade). Purchase your curriculum first and then join the community below with the coupon code we send you.

Click the Join Now button below and enter your payment information (and a coupon code if you have one). You'll receive an email right away with your link to join the community and a welcome video to get you started right away!

You can cancel your membership at any time but we are not able to provide refunds for fees already paid.

Your Community Leaders

Kelly Ehrman

Owner and Author of Lavender's Blue Homeschool

I live in gorgeous small-town New Hampshire with my daughters Aiya and Sierra. We spend our mornings learning fascinating things in engaging and creative ways, exploring the woods, and occasionally-ish throwing our plan out the window to read just a few more chapters out loud because read aloud is our favorite thing. The girls are in 2nd and 5th grades this year, and when people ask how long we've been homeschooling I like to say "from birth!" Before they were born I taught mixed-age kindergarten at a truly unique outdoor school - and the bar was set pretty high for the kind of education (and relationship to learning) I wanted my children to have. By the time Aiya was two years old I was headlong into researching homeschooling. I fell in love with the Waldorf approach, and when I couldn't find the curriculum I was looking for in the preschool years, I began to develop my own. Lavender's Blue Homeschool was the result! The curriculum is still in progress, but all along I've had a vision that's bigger than the curriculum. Lavender's Blue needs a community as well. No matter where you live, I want you to have a community of mamas who inspire you, give you confidence, and show you how homeschooling works.

Flora Schubert

Community Manager at Lavender's Blue

I live in Pennsylvania with my husband, Gary, and my children, Andy and Claire. I taught Kindergarten and The Elementary Gifted Program in public school prior to having my own children but after they were born, my heart was at home. We committed to homeschooling the children and having me stay at home with them and what a gift that has been for all of us. We spend our days learning together, exploring, creating and playing. We have days that we learn at home and other days that we do lots of exploring. We are very involved in our Community Supported Garden and our local historical farm and both of those places have been huge parts of our homeschooling adventure. I work as a homeschool evaluator in PA and as the Community Manager for Lavender’s Blue. Both of these jobs offer me the chance to support and encourage others on the path of parenting and homeschooling. I feel strongly that the non judgmental support of like minded people is a key to success and I am grateful to have the chance to work with this community.

FAQ

Is the Community included with my curriculum purchase?

Yes, we are now offering a free annual community membership as a bonus for any full-year curriculum purchase (kindergarten through third grade). Please visit the shop to purchase your curriculum. Once you purchase you'll receive a coupon code for the annual membership.

Can we join if we aren’t using the Lavender’s Blue Curriculum?

Yes, you are most welcome! This community isn’t just for families using the Lavender’s Blue Curriculum. If you’re a Waldorf-inspired homeschool family looking for lovely, non-judgmental community, this is the place for you.

My child is still in the early years, so we aren’t technically “homeschooling” yet. Will this community be a good fit for me?

Yes, definitely! It’s no secret I have a soft spot for the early years. One of my top goals is to give parents the community and support they need in the precious years before main lessons start. We have a dedicated Early Years tribe waiting for you and better yet, you’ll have the opportunity to go step by step through the Lavender’s Blue Early Years Guide together with your tribe. Mamas write to us all the time to share what an impact the Early Years Guide has had for them. Going through it together will be even more amazing!

My child is in the middle/upper elementary years. I could use more support and families to talk to from the same age group. Should I join the community?

I can relate - please join and come talk to me! My oldest is in 5th this year and it’s interesting that just as the homeschool subjects and content get more intense, there are fewer resources available, and fewer moms to connect with and learn from. I’m working on creating a solid curriculum for third grade and up, but that’s a marathon journey! In the meantime, let’s connect and support each other in the community.

My partner is also involved in homeschooling our child. Can s/he join as well?

Absolutely! The membership fee is per family. Please let us know if your partner/spouse would like to join and we will get them set up at no additional cost.

Can I give a community membership as a gift?

Absolutely! If you want to gift a membership, just purchase and then send us an email at support@lavendersbluehomeschool.com with the full name and email address of your recipient. We'll get them set up in the community right away!

I live in the Southern Hemisphere. Will I get to meet other families from my side of the world?

I sure hope so! We have many customers and readers from the Southern Hemisphere (and our Project Manager too!) and I hope that you’ll join us in the community. We’re setting aside a special tribe just for you to easily find each other and connect.

When can I join the Lavender’s Blue Community?

Enrollments are now offered on a rolling basis so you can join at any time!

Can I sign up for one month at a time?

Yes, you now have the option to join on a monthly or annual membership.

What's the difference between the monthly and annual membership?

The monthly membership ($6/month) is less of a commitment, but the annual membership ($60) saves you money. With an annual membership, you get the full year of community access and support for the cost of only ten months.

If I sign up now, will I be auto-billed for the next session?

Yes, the payments system we're using requires you to put in your card info for auto-billing. You can access your account at any time to change your card info or cancel your membership auto-renewal. They system will send you a reminder email 3 days before your next auto-bill payment goes through.

Can I get a refund if I choose to leave the community?

You can cancel your membership at any time but we are not able to offer refunds for any community membership fees you've already paid.

I have another question not answered here!

Please reach out to support@lavendersbluehomeschool.com and we'll be happy to answer it! :)

I’m thrilled that you’ve stopped by to visit and I can’t wait to help you find your most joyful homeschooling groove!